Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Morton International, Inc.

Quin Soderquist

Michael Perry Jordan

Christopher Hock

Lance M Bosgieter

Bradley W Smith

Mark Ludwig Enders

Bradley D Harris

Mark Sherman Hatfield

Kelly B Johnson

Yutaka Tsuchida

Jason Mark Ibarra

Lance M Bosgeiter

Ken Pijaszek

Jennifer Marie Johnson

Christina D Slate

Patricie G Cochran

Richard W Carr

Airbag covers and related airbag modules designed with weakened portions configured to specifically accommodate emblems. In some embodiments, an airbag cover may comprise an emblem and a tear seam or another weakened portion extending through and/or adjacent to the emblem to create an asymmetrical split such that, following deployment and rupturing of the tear seam, the airbag cover is configured to form first and second airbag cover pieces, wherein a greater number and/or weight of the emblem is on the first airbag cover piece than the second airbag cover piece.

Emblemed airbag cover tear seams

An inflatable airbag assembly, such as a knee airbag assembly, including a support strap, wherein the support strap may be secured to an inflatable airbag cushion. The support strap may be configured to direct the deployment trajectory of the airbag cushion such that the airbag cushion is deployed rearwardly and upwardly within a vehicle. The inflatable airbag assembly may be configured to prevent injury to an occupant's hip, femur, knee, and/or lower leg.

Inflatable knee airbag assemblies

Flangeless inflators include a body comprising a base member and a diffuser member coupled together, where the body is devoid of a lateral inflator-coupling flange. At least one fastener is coupled to the base member of the body. In an inflatable airbag system, the flangeless inflator is coupled to an airbag cushion, as well as to a steering wheel armature. In forming flangeless inflators, a body is formed that is devoid of the lateral inflator-coupling flange, and at least one fastener is attached to the body.

Flangeless inflators and methods of making such inflators for use with inflatable airbag cushions

A steering wheel assembly that receives an airbag may include a steering wheel framework. This framework may include a back cover and a first attachment feature. The steering wheel assembly may include an airbag cover having a second attachment feature for engaging the first attachment feature to directly attach the airbag cover to the steering wheel framework. This attachment may be accomplished without the use of an airbag housing. In some situations, the framework further includes an armature. The first attachment feature is positioned either on the armature or on the back cover.

Cover to wheel attachment method for improved gap control

Disclosed are embodiments of an airbag cushion and related airbag modules including a plurality of flaps that may be used to secure the airbag within a module housing. In one embodiment of the invention, first and second flaps are connected with the airbag cushion. The airbag cushion is adapted to be condensed into a compact configuration wherein the first flap extends adjacent to the second flap and in at least approximately the opposite direction as the second flap.

Airbag module flaps

A fabric deflector system is disclosed for use with airbags and airbag systems. The system comprises a deflector panel attached to an airbag cushion body. The deflector panel is attached to the airbag cushion body in a position such that the deflector panel at least partially deflects the inflation gas received from the inflator during inflation of the airbag cushion. The deflector panel comprises a plurality of arms extending radially outward from the inflator opening and at least partially deflects the inflation gas through the arms.

Airbag cushion with improved fabric deflector design

An apparatus is provided to reinforce an airbag while it is deploying through an airbag cover. An undeployed airbag is wrapped in a cover deployment flap that may be a thin piece of material. The cover deployment flap is located between the airbag and the airbag cover. As the airbag deploys, the cover deployment flap remains between the airbag and the airbag cover until the airbag cover is sufficiently open. The cover deployment flap may have multiple folded configurations to wrap the undeployed airbag. The cover deployment flap may further include an overlap that allows the airbag to release from the cover deployment flap once the airbag cover is open.

Airbag cover deployment flaps

An air bag device that includes an air bag cushion, a diffuser canister, and a gas generation inflator. The diffuser canister is attached to the air bag cushion and has walls configured to define an interior space therein. The walls of the diffuser canister have an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a wall thickness t. At least one of the walls has an aperture formed therethrough in communication with the interior of the air bag cushion. The gas generation inflator is configured to rapidly create a gas that exits the diffuser canister through the aperture so as to fill the air bag cushion. The aperture is defined by an edge extending between the interior and said exterior surfaces of the wall that is configured to diffuse the gas exiting the diffuser canister through the aperture. The edge of the aperture is configured such that the cross-sectional area of the aperture that is proximate to the exterior surface of the wall is larger than the cross-sectional area of the aperture proximate to the interior surface of wall. The edge includes an angled portion configured such that opposing sides of the aperture have an angle &agr; therebetween in the range of about 20 degrees to about 145 degrees. The aperture has a diameter d proximate to the interior surface of the wall and is configured so that the diameter d and wall thickness t have a ratio d to tin the range of about 0.5 to about 4. An alternate embodiment of the air bag device comprises an aperture defined by an edge that is configured so that the cross-section of aperture is non-smooth and causes turbulence in the gas stream.

Air bag inflation exit gas dispersion features

An arrangement is provided for attaching a cover to a housing member of an airbag module assembly, wherein an inflatable airbag cushion is stored. The housing member includes a plurality of mounting projections, each of the mounting projections having an inward directed free end. The cover includes a plurality of mounting openings each receiving an associated one of the mounting projections with the free end of each of the mounting projections extending in a direction away from the stored inflatable airbag cushion.

Airbag module cover attachment

An air bag device that includes an air bag cushion, a diffuser canister, and a gas generation inflator. The diffuser canister is attached to the air bag cushion and has walls configured to define an interior space therein. The walls of the diffuser canister have an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a wall thickness t. At least one of the walls has an aperture formed therethrough in communication with the interior of the air bag cushion. The gas generation inflator is configured to rapidly create a gas that exists the diffuser canister through the aperture so as to fill the air bag cushion. The aperture is defined by an edge extending between the interior and said exterior surfaces of the wall that is configured to diffuse the gas exiting the diffuser canister through the aperture. The edge of the aperture is configured such that the cross-sectional area of the aperture that is proximate to the exterior surface of the wall is larger than the cross-sectional area of the aperture proximate to the interior surface of wall. The edge includes an angled portion configured such that opposing sides of the aperture have an angle &agr; therebetween in the range of about 20 degrees to about 145 degrees. The aperture has a diameter d,proximate to the interior surface of the wall and is configured so that the diameter d,and wall thickness t have a ratio d,to t in the range of about 0.5 to about 4.

Air bag inflator exit gas dispersion features

Arrangements and methods for attaching an airbag cushion are provided wherein an attachment opening of the airbag cushion is clamped between an inflator and an airbag retainer which previously had been floatingly confined within the body of the airbag cushion.

Airbag cushion attachment

Arrangements and methods for attaching an airbag cushion wherein the airbag cushion 'floats' or is movable relative to an airbag module element extending through an opening in the cushion with a first end of the module element disposed within the cushion inflatable body and a second end of the module element extending out of the cushion inflatable body. Upon deployment of the corresponding airbag cushion, such floating or movable attachment can help avoid stress concentrations and complications associated therewith.

An airbag module featuring a reduced number of components is disclosed. The assembly of the module is simplified by the fewer number of components involved and by the use of a single fastener to hold the major components together as a module. The module comprises an inflator, an inflatable cushion, an optional cover and an optional insulator, all of which are held together by a single clamp.

Airbag module with a reduced number of fasteners

An airbag deflection mount for mounting an airbag cushion to an airbag module and for deflecting hot inflation gas away from a throat of the airbag cushion. The airbag deflection mount includes a generally flat retainer ring for securing a collar of the airbag cushion around an inflator of the airbag module that produces and expels the inflation gas from a plurality of inflation ports for inflating the airbag cushion upon a vehicle collision. The airbag deflection mount also includes a plurality of deflectors extending upwardly from the retainer ring and positionable, spaced-apart from the inflator, between the plurality of inflation ports of the inflator and the throat of the airbag cushion. The plurality of deflectors deflect hot inflation gas away from the throat of the airbag cushion and substantially prevent the throat of the airbag cushion from being burned by the hot inflation gas.

Airbag deflection mount

An airbag module combining assembly and mounting components and steps. The module includes an inflator having a mounting flange. The cushion mouth rests upon a top side of the flange. A rigid retaining member rests above the cushion mouth to secure the cushion to the flange. The retaining member includes studs which extend through mating holes in the cushion and flange. The free ends of the studs extend beyond the bottom of the flange. A cover fits over the folded cushion and includes a plurality of flaps extending downward. The ends of the flaps are folded under the flange and fit over the studs. Temporary restraints, such a friction lock washers are secured over the studs to secure the cushion, inflator and cover flaps between the retaining member and temporary restraints. The partially assembled module may be shipped in this condition. The extending free ends of the studs may then be inserted into mounting brackets in the vehicle, and permanent nuts fixed thereon. This firmly secures the cushion and cover to the inflator, and completes assembly of the module with the mounting step. This design further permits the use of a simplified cover flap which is easier to produce.

Growing community of inventors

South Weber, UT, United States of America

Quin Soderquist